Smith's mom had title-game premonition

It was in April, when the breast cancer had spread to her brain and she was in the toughest battle of her life, that Cardinals fullback Terrelle Smith's mother first told him of her vision.

She said she saw him playing at home in the NFC Championship Game.

Nine months later, it's happening.

"Doctors say sometimes they get delusional and, at times, we thought she was," Smith said. "But now it lines up. It makes sense, and it tells me what to fight for every week."

She won't get to see it. She died in December.

Smith's father died four years earlier. Smith said he is dedicating Sunday's game against the Eagles to both parents.

"I'm keeping a positive out of something that could devastate you badly," Smith said.

That's the plan

Many people find it hard to believe the Cardinals are in the NFC title game. But coach Ken Whisenhunt isn't shocked his team made it in his just his second year as coach.

"I'm not surprised," he said with a little smile. "That was the plan. That's why you do it, right?"

Whisenhunt acknowledged that it was easy to criticize his team a month ago, when the Cardinals were getting blown out on the road. Even he was angry at his players after the 47-7 loss in New England.

But he felt from the time of training camp that the Cardinals "had a good core group of guys, and that it was going to be a process we had to go through. That's the great thing about the playoffs: You get in and you never know what can happen."

Personally speaking

With the Cardinals just one victory from advancing to Super Bowl XLIII, we asked some of the players how much this turnaround season has changed them personally. Here's what they said:

Bryan Robinson, Nose tackle

This is your 12th NFL season, but this is still something special, isn't it? "Man, I haven't had this many cameras in my face for five or six years, so for you (media) guys to be here this time in January, it's just a great feeling."

It's normally not like that around this team, this time of year, huh? "No, usually you all are talking about the NFL draft. I'm telling you, this is just amazing."

What about getting to know the fans, and the crowd noise you can expect to hear Sunday? "Our fans have been super. They've been great all year. In our first playoff game against Atlanta, you could really feel the difference and the electricity. I know they're only going to take it up a few notches this game."

- Bob McManaman

Key matchup

Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald vs. cornerback Asante Samuel

Samuel is a playmaker - a shutdown corner - but he figures to have his hands full with Fitzgerald, whose stock has risen exponentially this season. Samuel's prowess for shadowing and shutting down stud wideouts, however, could be tempered Sunday if the Cardinals continue their game plan and run Fitzgerald in and out of motion plays to confuse the Eagles defense. It can free Fitzgerald from Samuel on critical plays.

- Bob McManaman

Eagles spotlight

Jon Runyan

Position: Right tackle.

Born: Nov. 27, 1973, in Flint, Mich.

Career highlights: Runyan has been one of the more dependable linemen in NFL history, having a regular-season consecutive-games streak of 192, third among active players. He has been a cornerstone blocker who has appeared in 20 playoff games and is a player that coach Andy Reid says is "going to maul you and beat you up."

Personal: Runyan aspires to have a career in the media once he retires. A motorcycle enthusiast, he annually participates in Daytona Bike Week with his custom chopper.